Page 180 of Theirs to Ruin

“I’m here,” I whispered. “You saved me, Kage. I’m here.”

He pulled me to him with a desperation that almost frightened me, his fingers twisting in my hair like it was his only lifeline.

“You can’t go,” Kage said in a tight, strained voice.

“I’m not going any?—”

“I won’t be fooled again,” he vowed.

Yesterday, between sporadic hours of sleep, Dante had left Kage and I alone to talk. Kate hated that he’d been so easily misled by Silas’s father, who’d been lying about his wife’s stroke. His guilt at not seeing Silas’s treachery was staggering. He blamed himself for what happened to both Ava and me. All I could do was hold Kage and tell him none of this was his fault, the same thing I did now.

“It wasn’t your fault, Kage. You did nothing but protect Ava and me. It was Silas and those men. Their greed. It wasn’t your fault.”

I kept saying the words until his grip on me relaxed and his breathing grew even. Minutes later, I was hesitant to bring up Silas again, but I didn’t want to stop talking about Ava. So long as we talked about her, she wasn’t completely gone. “Why do you think Ava didn’t give Silas the gold bar?”

"I think in the end she chose your friendship over whatever she felt for Silas."

Tears filled my eyes. "I wish she hadn’t. If she’d given it to him, she might still be alive.”

Kage shook his head. “He would have killed her anyway. But I like to think that when she refused him, for just a minute, she was the sister I knew before she was kidnapped. Or if not that, at least the sister that still had enough hope in her heart to be your friend. That friendship was real, Camille. I saw it when she was with you, and it’s clear in that picture she kept of the two of you how much you meant to her.”

“I want to believe that, too.”

"The cops are working on finding the third attacker. And so is my network," he assured me. “But until he’s caught, you're not going anywhere without one of us. Understood?"

Normally I would have bristled at his command, but now I was just grateful I had them: my three protectors. “I don't mind the company."

Kage's expression softened. "Good. Now, how about I give you that breakfast you snuck out on? You know, the cruffins I drove all the way to Manhattan to buy at the crack of dawn.”

I felt a burst of happiness that he’d done that for me. “Did you get coconut?”

"Of course. Although I’m sure it’s stale by now.”

"I don’t care. It’ll be one of the best things I've ever tasted, I promise." My curiosity peaked. "Did you get any other flavors?”

"White chocolate raspberry.”

My mouth watered. "White chocolate raspberry sounds awesome, but since you got the coconut specifically for me…"

His grin broadened. "Actually, the coconut was for me, but I might be persuaded to share a bite or two with you."

Laughter bubbled from my lips, my first genuine laugh since I was attacked.

"How about after we eat we take the Bugatti out for a spin? Let's hit the highway so you can drive like the wind.”

I thought of my racing skills and barely suppressed a smile. “Just remember you asked for that when you’re clutching your arm rest.”

Kage and I quickly showered and dressed, then headed downstairs. The rich aroma of coffee filled the air. Ty and Dante were in the middle of making breakfast, but by the sound of things, it wasn’t going well. Both came into view.

"Damn it, Dante! You overcooked the frittata," Ty growled, eyeing the slightly charred edges with disdain.

"Lighten up, will you? It's just a little crispy.”

Ty shot him a sharp look. “Exactly.”

Dante leaned back and took a sip from a coffee mug. He let out an appreciative hum. "You're a dick, but damn, this coffee's good."

When I laughed, they both turned to look at me. “Good morning,” I said.

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